Wells
explained there is a surplus in council’s budget every year. This year,
however, a surplus is not expected in that account, municipal information
officer Diana Waltmann said this week.

Councillor
Marianne Wade supported the motion but there was a pause before the other
councillors gathered their thoughts and commented.

All
of them said they recognized the sentiment of the request, however they were
unwilling to support it.

“This
is not the way to make a decision,” said Councillor Nick Davies, the first to
shoot down the request.

Lamont
highlighted the difficulty of their situation pointing to the municipality’s
striking Canadian Union of Public Employee workers who are looking for a $4,000
cost of living increase. That situation has not been resolved since it began
earlier this year.

Mayor-elect
Ken Melamed said he would be willing to take the issue through the budgeting
process with the new council but wouldn’t support it at this time.